It’s not an uncommon belief amongst those who are forced into self-reliance at an early age, so it’s of little surprise to hear that quote make an appearance in one of Loren Dayle’s rhymes. To say that the Jamaican born, Canadian bred conscious hip-hop artist had it rough would be an understatement – his numbing story of childhood abandonment and abuse has even brought hardened police officers to tears. But his is more importantly a story of resilience, a story about the kid who could have gone left but went right instead, about someone who doesn’t want your pity but absolutely wants you fired up about what comes next.

Dayle left his suburban foster home for Ottawa at 18 armed with nothing but ambition, a budding talent for creative writing and, strange as it may seem now, a passion for heavy metal music. In 8 year’s time Loren would evolve from an introvert who kept his poems private to one of the most buzzed about up and coming slam/ active poets in all of Canada, routinely winning competitions and silencing audiences—they didn’t know whether to clap or cry—with performances that combined the energy of metal with his poetry’s raw honesty and jarring subject matter.

From poetry emerged hip-hop and the legend of Loren Dayle began to take shape. His enthralling performances stunned crowds of tens of thousands both in and outside of Canada, as a headliner and opener for names such as RZA, Joe Budden and Joell Ortiz. He released 2 EP’s during his time as well: 2010’s Just Me and 2013’s Unscripted. Now based in the bigger and more arts-friendly city of Montreal, Dayle is working on his debut LP, an effort due out August 2017 that he says delves even deeper into conscious hip hop and that will contain only tracks with single potential. We’ll soon know if he’s bluffing – the album’s first single is due out March 2017, with videos and subsequent singles to follow shortly thereafter.

“There’s no way in hell that we won’t succeed,” Loren says confidently. Judging by the adversity he has succeeded in the face of so far, one would be a fool to doubt him.